Managing People with Power Skills

About

As the PMBOK Guide aptly states, "projects are performed by people and for people," (page 9, 7th Edition).

People drive projects. Period.

As experienced project managers, we are continuously working with stakeholders to maintain good relationships to ensure that their expectations are in alignment with the goals of the project. Having effective people management skills is a crucial component of project management experience to achieving project success.

Linked to the Leadership skill area of the PMI Talent Triangle as well as linked to the people domain of the PMP Certification exam, this course will place focus on managing the expectations and relationships of the people involved in projects. To achieve the project goals, it is important to have the knowledge, skills and behaviors needed to guide, motivate and/or direct others. People skills are crucial in achieving success. One way to effectively motivate others is to show them what they can achieve through collaboration and cooperation. Project leaders are constantly helping project stakeholders see the potential for success by demonstrating knowledge, skills and behaviors related to people.

There are a variety of skills that will be covered in the course, such as negotiation, active listening, emotional intelligence, and servant leadership. These powerful skills can be incredibly helpful throughout the lifecycle of your projects, so it's important that project professionals learn them well.

In this course learners will cover the core interpersonal skills and key techniques to effectively manage the expectations and the relationships with project stakeholders:

• Identifying project stakeholders

• Planning resource needs

• Sharing the vision of the project with your stakeholders

• Educating your stakeholders on the methodology and framework used in the project environment and business environment

• Keeping your stakeholders informed in the predictive vs. the agile environment

• Motivational theories

• Addressing interpersonal conflicts

• Emotional intelligence

• Decision making techniques

• Communications management.

Learners will uncover the importance of managing expectations and relationships effectively and how to create a positive work environment and build good relationships with team members. This is an essential skill for any project manager, and this course will focus on how to manage the expectations of others, both internally and externally. By doing so, you can help your team and organization stay productive and successfully meet the goals of the project..

By the end of the course, learners will be able to confidently identify the stakeholders of a project and determine the appropriate strategies to manage expectations and maintain a productive working relationship with team members and all stakeholders. This is an important competency in any industry, whether it be healthcare, information technology, government, private-sector, or non-profit. Additionally, upon successful completion of this course, learners can earn 8 contact hours of project management education or professional development units which are recognized by the Project Management Institute (PMI). A total of 35 contact hours (PDUs) in project management education are a requirement (see PMI.org) to those looking to achieve the Project Management Professional (PMP) credential. Learners will finish this PMP certification course with increased knowledge of the better practice tips to engage stakeholders and be more than ready to continue their project management and PMP journey, which we hope completes your certificate with us.

What you will learn

At the end of the project management course, learners will gain the prerequisites to:

• Review the key interpersonal skills necessary to effectively manage projects

• Define who are the stakeholders and how we interact with them in predictive environment vs. adaptive environment

• Apply techniques used to effectively handle conflicts and inform stakeholders in the context of risk management

• Analyze the factors of resource planning and project team management

• Recognize the key techniques to work with vendors as a part of the procurement process

• Discover the key elements that make for a strong communications plan

Skills you learn

• Project Management Institute (PMI) Methodology
• Health Information Technology
• Negotiation
• Emotional Intelligence
• Project Stakeholders
• Leadership
• Project Management Professional Certification
• People Management
• Agile Methodology
• Interpersonal Communications
• Active Listening
• Cooperation
• Servant Leadership

Syllabus

Week 1: The first week starts with the hard fact about soft skills: they are needed to be an effective project manager. Probably considered one of the most critical project management skill, this lesson will delve into the renaming of soft skills as power skills within the PMI® Talent Triangle® and will also make the connection to the People domain of the project management professional (PMP)® certification exam. Additionally, this lesson will provide a foundational overview of the important interpersonal skills to be successful in managing projects, working with project teams and stakeholders.

Week 2: The second week will dive into explaining the concept of stakeholders–who they are, sharing the vision with them and understanding the PM’s sphere of influence. This week will also include strategies in people management in the context of predictive projects vs. agile projects, such as scrum.

Week 3: The third week puts focus on resource management: the people, supplies, equipment, materials to get the job done. Participants will learn about the role of the PM, the necessary power skills (same as in stakeholder management), and key concepts related to resource management such as leading vs. managing, determining the motivations of stakeholders, resolving conflict, managing virtual teams and recognizing and rewarding team members for a job well done.

Week 4: The fourth and final week details the importance of communications: getting the right information, to the right people, at the right time, and in the right format. Participants will learn about the difference of effective communications vs. efficient communications and the PM’s role in all of this.

This competency is so important that it makes up 42% of the PMP exam. Learners will gain an understanding of the domain as it relates to the predictive environment as well as how it relates to agile environment. Learners who enroll in the entire comprehensive training program will earn the necessary PDUs required for eligibility to sit for the PMP certification exam and maintain their certification requirements for those who are PMP certified. This course can also be applied towards the CAPM certification. In this PMP training course taught by an authorized training partner Instructor, learners will have access to study materials, practice exams, and delve into topics for the experienced project manager and program manager. While the focus is for PMP exam preparation, PMP certification holders get the added benefit of obtaining professional development units (PDUs) that meet the global equivalent of contact hours as defined by the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Auto Summary

Unlock the potential to effectively manage teams and projects with the "Managing People with Power Skills" course, offered by edX. Designed for those in the Business & Management domain, this foundational course delves into the critical aspects of people management, emphasizing the importance of clear communication, shared goals, and collaborative efforts. Over 30 hours of insightful content, you'll gain practical skills to navigate team dynamics and drive projects to success. Led by industry experts, this course provides a comprehensive understanding of how to harness the power of people in any project setting. Whether you choose the Professional or Starter subscription, you'll have access to valuable resources and strategies to enhance your leadership capabilities. Ideal for beginners and those looking to refine their management skills, this course is perfect for aspiring managers, team leaders, and project coordinators eager to improve their interpersonal and team-building abilities. Join now to transform your approach to managing people and achieve outstanding project outcomes.